“You are a bad traveler,” said Lady Mabel, “and seem never to have with you the means of testing the truth of what you are told.”

“I take with me a good stock of faith,” said L’Isle, “and believe, or seem to believe, all that I am told.  This pleases these people wonderfully well, and keeping them in good humor is the main point just now.  There is, however, near Estremoz, which place you passed through coming hither, a curiosity of somewhat a similar kind.  It is a spring which is dry in winter, but pours out a considerable stream in summer.  Its waters are of so petrifying a quality, that the wheels of the mills it works are said to be soon turned into stone.”

“I trust, for your credit as a traveler,” said Lady Mabel, “that you will be able to say that you, for once, proved the truth or falsehood of what you heard.”

“I did, and found them incrusted with stone.  But that is not so curious as the prophetic spring of Xido, which foretells to the rustics around a fruitful season, by pouring forth but little water, or a year of scarcity by an abundant flow.  These are little things; but were I to run over each class of objects of curiosity or interest this country affords, I would soon convince you that you were already in a land of wonders and rare sights.”

“But even here I am trammeled.  Papa did not come out here to examine the curiosities of the country, or to hunt out picturesque scenery, Moorish antiquities, or Roman ruins, and I cannot go scampering over the neighborhood with an escort of volunteers from the brigade or the Light Dragoons.  It is true that Mrs. Captain Howe, who is a great connoisseuse in nature and art, has promised to be my guide in exploring the country as soon as she gets rid of her rheumatism.  But from the number of her flannel wrappers, I infer that there is no hope of her soon extending her explorations beyond the walls of her room.”

“You must indeed feel the want of a companion to free you from the awkwardness of your situation; here with no company but those rude comrades his majesty has sent out hither.”

“My want is so urgent that were it not for my loyalty, I would now exchange a crack regiment for a companionable woman.”

“I am glad, then, to be able to tell you that a lady has arrived in Elvas, who may be very useful in filling up this awkward gap in the circle of your acquaintance!”

“A lady?  An English lady?  Who is she?”

“An English lady.  One old enough to be your chaperon, and young enough to be your companion.  She has some other merits too, not the least of which, in my estimation is that she professes to be a great friend of mine.”

“A crowning virtue, that,” said lady Mabel.

“It does not blind me, however, to two or three faults, and a misfortune she labors under.”

“What then are her faults?”

“The first is, that she is, it must be confessed, rather simple.”